Faith and works

Eph 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.I would have thought it was pretty straight forward. We are saved by grace, through faith. Not by works, it is a gift. I really wonder which part of this some people find so hard.Ah I hear someone say! James said faith without works is dead! Indeed he did! This is a perfect example of taking things out of context.First let us look at some things in order. We are going along in life, things appear ok, but we know deep down they are not. We eventually listen to that voice that has been whispering in our ear for how long? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? Maybe it’s even shouted a bit to get our attention…but finally we listen. What do we do? We realise our wretchedness. We repent (turn to Christ). Our souls are sorrowful, and we ask forgiveness of our sins. He then gives us a new heart, and makes us a new creation. Depending on the individual, instantly, or over the weeks, months, years that follow, we notice changes. Big changes, little changes. We now have the fruits of the spirit. We ARE different. Changes that we tried to make and failed HE has done successfully.Now we are doing good works. But are they ours? Or is it the Holy Spirit working through us? Are these works really God’s?Back to James. James 2: The Sin of Partiality1My brothers,a show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.Faith Without Works Is Dead14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what goodb is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. Have a really good think about this. If you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you really believe in Him, His works will manifest themselves in you. You will not just go to church once a week, you will love others. You will not be able to help yourself. The love that God gives you, you will return to Him, in your worship and prayers, and also the fact that you will love your neighbour. You will love your enemies, and you will love each other.We are all in different circumstances, and we will all achieve this in different ways. Volunteering to give out food parcels. Helping a friend through a tough time with a cuppa and a shoulder to cry on. Being a prayer warrior. Donating money to help refugees. The list is endless. But this is what Christ wants us to do. This is how Christ will judge the sheep and the goats. We are not doing our works, we are doing His.Love is the fulfilment of the law. First Christ fulfilled it. By giving us His love we are enabled to spread His Gospel, the good news of His love, and by actual practical application of the two great commandments, love God, and love your neighbour.Remember the order? First we are called, then we repent, then we serve, with HIS works.